Mtd 15HP Z-FORCE 44, 53AA5D2L100, 18HP Z-Force 44, 53AA5A5L100 owners Manual
Hydrostatic Zero-Turn
Residential Riding Mower
Turf Equipment
MODEL
15HP Z-Force 44
53AA5D2L100
18HP Z-Force 44
53AA5A5L100
OPERATOR’S AND SERVICE MANUAL
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Foreword. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
General Safety Operations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
A.General Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
B.Slope Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
C.Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
D.Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Safety Decals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Operating Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
A.General. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
B.Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
C.Initial Adjustments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
D.Zero Turn Break-In and Operating Procedures. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Maintenance and Service. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 5
A.Mower Deck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
B.Hydrostatic Drive System. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
C.Electrical Circuit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
D.Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
E.Brakes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
F.
Hydraulic System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
G.Storage. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Maintenance Schedule. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Performance Adjustments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
A.High Speed Tracking Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
B.Engine RPM Check and Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
C.Deck Corner Ball Wheel Roller Settings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
D.Deck Center Anti-Scalp Roller Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
E. Lap Bar Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
F. Deck Leveling Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Wiring Diagram. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Slope Gauge. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
Warranty. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Back cover
This product may be covered by one or more of the following patents:
D409,208; 5,946,894; 6,070,690; Pending
2
FORWARD
The Hy d ros ta tic Z e ro- Tu rn Rid in g Mo wer pro v ide s su per b m an eu verab ility a nd mid - m o u nt cu tting. The mac hine i ncor pora tes many safety featur es that shoul d be st udied by al l operators
before use. The list of safety precautions should receive particular attention.
This manual presents all of the operating and maintenance ins truc tions necessar y to keep
your mower at peak efficiency. If operated and maintained properly, your mower will give
dependable service.
CAUTION:
Only thoroughly trai ned persons should operate and maintain this
mower. This machine can cause serious injur y to anyone who misuses it and does not understand its operation. For their personal
safety, all operators ar e required to read this entire manual before
operating the mower.
Hazard control and accident prevention are partially dependent
upon the design and configuration of the equipment. Awareness,
concern, prudence and proper training of the personnel involved in
the operation, transport, maintenance and storage of the equipment, are essential for hazard control and accident prevention.
3
WARNING
• The engine exhaust, some of its constituents, and certain vehicle components contain or emit chemicals
known to the St ate of California to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm .
• This unit is equipped with an internal combustion engine and should not be used on or near any unimproved
forest-covered, brush-covered, or grass-covered land unless the engine’s exhaust system is equipped with a
spark arrester meeting applicable local or state laws (if any). If a spark arrester is used, it should be maintaine d in eff ective work i ng or der by the op e r a to r.
• In the State of California, the above is required by law (Section 4442 of the California Public Resources
Code). Other States may have similar laws. Federal laws apply to federal lands. A spark arrester muffler
may be available.
IMPORTANT
THIS SYMB OL POINTS OU T IMPO RTANT SAFET Y INSTRUCTIONS WHICH, IF NOT FOLLOWED,
COULD ENDANGER THE PERSONAL SAFETY AND/OR PROPERTY OF YOURSELF AND OTHERS. READ AND FOLLOW ALL INSTRUCTIONS IN THIS MANUAL BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO
OPERATE YOUR UNIT. FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THESE INSTRUCTIONS MAY RESULT IN
PERSON AL INJURY. W HEN YO U SEE TH IS SYMBOL-
D ANGER
Your lawn mower was built to be operated according to the rules for safe operation
in this manual. As with any type of power equipment, carelessness or error on the
part of the operator can result in injury. This lawn mower is capable of amputating
hands and feet or throwing objects. Failure to observe the following safety instructions could re sult in serious injury or death.
GENERAL SAFETY
OPERATIONS
A. GENERAL OPERATION
1. Read, un der stan d and f o llo w a ll inst ructio ns in
the man ual and on the machine before starting. Keep this manual in a safe place for
future and regular ref erence and f or ordering
replac em ent parts.
2. Only allow responsible individuals familia r with
the instructions to operate the machine. Know
the controls and how to stop the machine
quickly.
3. Do not put hands or feet under the cutting
deck or near rotating parts.
4. Clear the area of objects such as rocks, toys,
wire, etc. whic h could b e pic ked up an d throw n
by the blades. A small object may ha ve been
overlooked and co ul d be accidentally thrown
by the mo wer in any dire ction and ca use injury
to you or a bystander. To help avo i d a thrown
objects injury, keep children, animals,
byst anders and helpers at least 75 feet fro m
the mower while it is in operation. Always
wear sa f et y glass es w ith side shi elds or safety
goggles during operation or while performing
and adjustment or repair, to protect eyes from
SAFE OPERATION PRACTICES
HEED ITS WARNING.
forei gn objects. Stop the blades when crossing gravel drives, walks or roads.
5. Be sure the area is clear of othe r people
before mowing. Stop m a c hi ne if anyone
enters the area.
6. Never carry passengers.
7. Disenga ge t he blades bef ore shifting into
reverse and ba ck i ng up. Always look down
and behind before and while backing.
8. Be aware of the mow er and attachme nt di scharge di rec tion an d d o not po int it at an y on e .
Do not operate the mower without either the
entire grass catcher or the chute guard in
place.
9. Slow down before turning. Operate the
machine smoothly. Avoid erratic operation
and excessive speed.
10. Never lea ve a running machine unattended.
Always turn off the blades, place the transmission in neutral, set the parking brake, stop the
engine and remove key before dismounting.
11. Turn off blades when not mowing.
12. Stop the engine and wa i t until the blades
come to a complete stop before (a) removing
the grass catcher or unclogging chute, or (b)
making an y r epa irs, adj ust ing o r remo v ing an y
grass or debris.
13. Mow only in daylight or good artificial light.
4
14. Do not operate the machine while under the
influence of alcohol or drugs.
15. Watch for traffic whe n operating near or
crossing roadways.
16. Use extra c are when loading or unloading the
machine into a trailer or truck. This unit
should not be driven up or down a ramp onto
a trailer or t ruck under power, because the
unit co uld tip over ca using seriou s personal
injury. The unit must be pushed m anually on
a ramp to load or unload properly.
17. Never ma ke a cutting height adjus tment while
the engin e is running if the operator must dismount to do so.
18. Wear sturdy, rough-sol ed work shoes and
closefi tti ng slacks and shirts . Do not wear
loose fitting clothes or jewelry. They can be
caught in moving parts. Never operate a unit
in bare feet, sandals or sneakers.
19. Check overhead clearance carefully before
driving under power lines, wires, bri dges or
low h anging tree br anches, before ente rin g or
leaving buildings, or in any other sit uation
where the operator may be struck or pulled
from the unit, which could result in serious
injury.
20. Disengage all attachm ent clutches, set the
parking br ake to the on positi on and put the
lap bars to th e neutral or out posit i on, before
attempting to start the engine.
21. Your mower is designed to cut normal residential g rass of a height no more than 10”.
Do not attem pt to mow through unusual ly tall,
dry grass (e. g. pas ture ) or piles of dry leaves.
Debris ma y build up on the mower dec k or
contact th e engine exhaust presenting a
potential f ire hazard.
22. Use onl y accesso r ies app rov ed for th i s
machine by
and follow all instructions provided with the
appro ved accessory.
Cub Cadet.
Read, understand
B. SLOPE OPERATION
Slopes are a major factor related to loss of control and tip-over accidents, which can result in
severe injur y or death.
caution. If you cannot back up the slope or if you
feel uneasy on it, do not mow it.
For your safety, use the slope gauge included as
a part of this manual (see pg. 27) to measure
slopes before operating this unit on a sloped or
hilly area. If the slope is greater than 15 degrees
as shown on the slope gauge, do not operate this
unit on that area or serious injury could result.
All
slopes require extra
DO:
• Mow across slopes, not up and down.
• Rem o ve obstac le s suc h as r o cks, limb s, e tc.
• Watch for holes, ruts or bumps. Uneven terrain
could overturn the machine.
obstacles.
• Use slow speed. Choose a low enough speed
so that you will not have to stop while on the
slope.
• Follow the manufacture’s recommendat ion s for
counterweights with attachments to improve stability.
• Use extra care with grass catchers or other
attachments. These can change the stability of
the machine.
• Keep all movement on the slopes
gradual.
or direction. Rapid acceleration or deceleration
could cause the front of the machine to lift and
rapidly flip over backwards, which could cause
serious injury.
• Avoid starting or stopping on a slope. If the
tires lose traction, disengage the blades and proceed slowly
Do not
•
turn slowly and gradually downhill, if possible.
• Do not
ments. The mower could suddenly turn over if a
wheel is over the edge of a cliff or ditch, or if an
edge caves in.
Do not
•
could cause sliding.
• Do not
your foot on the ground.
• Do not
Do not make sudden changes in speed
straight
turn on slopes unless necessar y ; then,
mow near drop-offs, ditches or embank-
mow on wet grass. Reduced traction
try to stabilize the machine by putting
use the grass catcher on steep slopes.
down the slope.
DO NOT :
T all grass can hide
slow
and
C. CHILDREN
Tragic accidents can occur if the operator is not
alert to the presence of children. Children are
often attracted to the machine and the mowing
activity.
where you last saw them.
1. Keep children out of th e m owing area and in
2. Be alert and turn the machine off if children
3. Befor e and whe n bac k ing up , look beh ind a nd
4. Nev er c arry chi ldre n, even with the blades of f .
5. Never allow children under 14 years old to
Never
assume that children will remain
watchful care of an adult other than the operator.
ente r the area.
down
for small children.
They may fall of f and be seriously injured or
may interfere with safe machine operation.
operate the machine. Children 14 years and
over should only op erate th e m achine under
5
close parental supervision an d proper instruction.
6. Use extra care when approaching blind corners , sh rubs, trees or other objects that may
obscure your vision of a ch ild or ot her hazard.
7. Remove the key when the machine is left
unattended to prev ent unauthorized operation.
D. SERVICE
1. Use extreme care in handl i ng gasoline and
other fuels. They are extremely flam m able
and the vapors are e xplosive.
a. Use only an approved container.
b. Never remo ve fuel cap or add fuel with
the engine running. Allow the engine
to cool at least two minutes before
refueling.
c. Rep lace the fuel cap securely and
wipe off any spilled fuel bef ore starting
the engine as it may cause a fire or
explosion.
d. Extinguish all cigarettes, cigars, pipes
and other sources of ignition.
e. Never refuel the machine indoors
because fuel vapors will accumulate in
the area.
f. Never store the fuel container or
machine inside where there is an open
flame or spark, such as a gas hot
water heater, space heater or furnace.
2. Ne v er run a machine ins ide a closed area.
3. To reduce fire hazard, keep the machine free
of grass, leaves or other debris build-up.
Clean up oil or fuel spillage. Allow the
machine t o cool at least 5 mi nut es bef o re storing.
4. Bef ore cleani ng, repa iring or insp ecting, m ake
certain the blade and all moving parts have
stopped. Disc onn ect the sp ark plug wire , and
keep the wire away from the spark plug to prevent accidental starting.
5. Check the b lad e and eng ine moun ting b olts a t
frequent intervals for proper tight nes s. Also
visually in sp ect blades for damage (e. g. ,
ex ce ss i ve wear, bent, crac ked). Replace with
blades which meet original equipment speci f i cations.
6. Keep all nuts, bol ts and screws tigh t to be
sure the equipment is in safe working condition.
7. Never tamper with safety devices. Check
their pr oper operation regularly. Use all
guards as instructed in this manual.
8. After strik ing a f orei gn o bjec t, stop the eng ine ,
remove the wire from the spark plug and thoroughly inspect the mower for any damage.
Repair the dam age before restarting and
operating the machine.
9. Grass catcher components ar e subject to
wear, damage and det eri oration, which co ul d
expose moving parts or allow obj ects to be
thrown. For your safety protection, frequently
check the components and replace with manufact urers recommended parts when necessary.
10. Mower blades are sharp and can cut. Wrap
the blades or wear gloves, and use extra caution when s ervicing blades.
11. Chec k park br ake op erati on frequ ently. Adjust
and service as required.
12. Muffler, engi ne and belt guards be co m e hot
during oper ation an d can ca use a bu rn. All ow
to cool down before t ou ching.
13. Do not change the engine governor settings
or overspeed the engin e. Excessive engi ne
speeds are dangerous.
14. Observe pr oper disposal laws and regulations. Improper disposal of fluids and materials can harm the environment and the
ecolog y.
a. Prior to disposal, contact your local
Environmental Protection Agency to
determine the proper method for disposing of the waste. Recycling centers are established to properly
dispose of materials in an environmentally safe fashion.
b. Use proper containers when draining
fluids. Do not use food or beverage
containers that may mislead someone
into drinking from them. Properly dispose of the containers immediately following the draining of fluids.
c. DO NOT pour oil or other fluids into the
ground, down drain or into a stream,
pond, lake or other body of water.
Observe Environmental Protection
Agency regulations when disposing of
oil, fuel, coolant, brake fluid, filters,
batteries, tires and other harmful
waste.
15. We do not recommend the use of high pressure washers to clean your unit. They may
cause damage to electri ca l components; s pi ndles; pulle ys; bearings; or the engine.
WARNI NG-YOUR RESPONSIBILITY:
read, understand and follow the warnings and instructions in this manual and on the machine.
Restrict the use of this power machine to persons who
6
SAFETY DECALS AND LABELS
Part Number: 777I20847
To unlock, pull part of handle inward.
Lift unlock ed handle to in crease cuttin g height.
To lock, release upper part of handle to move outward.
LOWERCUTTING DECKHIGHER
Part Number: 777I22093
I22093
KEEP HAND S AND FEET AWAY.
DANGER
DO NOT OPERATE MOWER
UNLESS CHUTE DEFLECTOR
OR ENTIRE GRASS CATCHER IS
IN ITS PROPER PLACE.
ASSEMBLE CHUTE DEFLECTOR TO THIS UNIT BEFORE OPERATING.
Part Number: 777S30503
Part Number: 777S32161
S30503
Part Number: 777I22094
Part Number: 777I22095 (Kawasaki)
Part Number: 01009146 (Briggs & Stratton)
Part Number: 777I22096
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Part Number: 777S30018
TO REDUCE THE RISK OF INJURY,
DO NOT OPERATE MOWER UNLESS
DISCHARGE C HU TE COVER O R G R AS S
CATCHER IS IN ITS PROPER PLACE.
DANGER
KEEP HANDS and FEET AWAY
Part Number: 777S30145
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7
SPECIFICATIONS
Engine: 15HP Kawasaki or 18HP Briggs & Stratton
Type: Vertical air cooled V-Twin
Air Cleaner: Paper element
Lube System: Pressurized with oil filter, drain valve with hose
Starter: 12-volt electric
Traction Drive: Engine to two variable-speed integrated hydraulic pump and
wheel motors on each drive wheel
Cutter Deck;Drive: 44" belt driven
Clutch: Electric
Deck Lift: Hand lever w/ lock for height adjustment
Cutting Height: 1-1/2" to 4"
No. of Blades 3, belt-driven, power take-off from engine
Controls: Engine ignition and start switch; throttle & choke; left and right
steering le ver s; ele ctric blade clutch s witch; parki ng br ake; mo wer
deck lift
Parking Brake: Mechanical linkage attached to the brake handle
Front Caster Wheels: 11 x 5.00 - 5
Tire Pressure: 8-10 psi rear, 20-25 psi front caster
Drive Wheels: 18 x 8.50 - 8
Frame: Structural steel, all welded construction
Seat: Adjustable seat. 4" Adjustment, optional arm rests
Fuel Tank: One 5 gallon with shut off valve
Ground Speed: 0-7 MPH forward. 0-3 MPH reverse
Instrumentation:
(Optional)
Net Weight: 598 lbs w/44" deck
Hour meter, Tachometer, Maintenance-minder,
8
OPE RATING IN ST R U CT ION S
Figure. 1 Figure. 2
Tach and
Hour Meter
Optional
Electric Blade
Clutch Switch
Ignition Switc h
A. General
1. When Mo wi n g:
a. Keep adults, children, and pets away from
the area to be mowed.
b. When operating this mower, in the forward
direction, do not allow the steering levers
to return to neutral on their own. Always
maintain a firm grip on the lev ers, operate
them smoothly and avoid any sudden
movements of the lev ers when s tarting and
stopping.
c. If the mower is equipped for side dis-
charge, never use the mower without the
discharge chute installed and placed in the
down position.
d. Always remove debris and other objects
from the area to be mowed (Note: debris
and loose grass will reduce traction).
e. Mow only in daylight or good ar t ificial light.
f. Watch f or holes, sprinkler heads, and other
hidden hazards.
g. Avoid driving too close to trees, creeks,
ditches, sand traps, and other obstacles.
h. Before backing up, check behind and
watch where you are going.
i. Always reduce speed when making a turn,
and when grass is wet.
j. Always mow across slopes, never up and
down the slope. Do not operate on steep
slopes and slow down before turning.
Avoid tur ning downhill if possible, start at
the bottom and work up to the top. Use
extra care and go slowly when turning
downhill.
k. Be careful when crossing grav el paths or
roadways. Always turn off the blade clutch
switch and wait until the blades stop rotat-
Choke
(briggs only)
ing and raise the cutting deck to the transport position. Always allow other vehicles
to have the right of way.
l. If you hit a solid object while mowing, turn
off the blade clutch switch, place the steering levers in the neutral, opened-out position, move the throttle to slow, set the
parking brake, shut off the engine, and
take the key from the ignition switch.
Inspect for damage. Repair the damage.
Make sure the blades are in good condition
and that the blade bolts are tight before
restarting the engine.
m. Never leav e the mow er unattended without
performing the following: turn off the blade
clutch switch, placing the steering levers i n
the neutral open-out position, moving the
throttle to slow, setting the parking brake,
shutting off the engine and taking the key
from the ignition switch.
n. Never walk or stand on the discharge side
of the mower when the engine is running.
Tur n off the blade clutch switch if another
person approaches while you are operating the mower.
o. Never attempt to operate the traction unit
without having the mowing deck attached.
p. Keep the mower and especially the engine
and hydraulic components clean and free
of grease, grass, and leaves to reduce the
chance of fire and permit proper cooling.
2. Safety Awareness when Mowing
a. Do not operate on steep slopes, those
above 15 degrees (27% slope).
b. Avoid turning downhill if possible , use e xtra
care and go slowly.
Engine throttle/Choke
(Kawasaki)
Engine throttle (briggs)
9
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